The ideal role of technology in our school district is one in which technology is implemented to facilitate higher level thinking, life skills, and preparation for 21st century living. In order to achieve this goal, districts must allocate funds for specific purposes. A full-time technical support assistant should be hired and present at every school site. Furthermore, a separate technology teacher would aide classroom teachers with troubleshooting and technology lessons.
Paid, up-to-date professional development should be provided to all staff in preparation to utilize new programs. This development would come from the technical support staff, thus encouraging communication between tech support and teachers.
Improved management and time allowance is key to a successful technology plan. Technical support teachers, teacher's aides, and peer tutors should be on hand during computer lab time to troubeshoot. Teachers who spend the majority of computer time troubleshooting find that actual teaching is difficult to accomplish. Furthermore, students should be taught basic troubleshooting skills. Technology standards should not be required unless full-funding is provided at every school site. Otherwise, attaining these standards is nearly impossible.
Technology should be equitable to all students, especially those is low SES schools who do not have access to computers at home. Special finds should be provided to Title I schools, and those with large amounts of students with learning disabilities. These students benefit from techology tools such as New Media. When technology becomes fully-accessible to students of low SES, programs should encourage higher level thinking. Computers should not solely be used for remediation and rote drill and practice. In school computer labs, every students should have access to his or her own computer. If a computer lab is not available, a classroom ratio of 1:2 is necessary.
The implementation and support of these components will allow for a rich and equitable technology experience for all learners.
The ideal role of technology in our school district is one in which technology is implemented to facilitate higher level thinking, life skills, and preparation for 21st century living. In order to achieve this goal, districts must allocate funds for specific purposes. A full-time technical support assistant should be hired and present at every school site. Furthermore, a separate technology teacher would aide classroom teachers with troubleshooting and technology lessons.
Paid, up-to-date professional development should be provided to all staff in preparation to utilize new programs. This development would come from the technical support staff, thus encouraging communication between tech support and teachers.
Improved management and time allowance is key to a successful technology plan. Technical support teachers, teacher's aides, and peer tutors should be on hand during computer lab time to troubeshoot. Teachers who spend the majority of computer time troubleshooting find that actual teaching is difficult to accomplish. Furthermore, students should be taught basic troubleshooting skills. Technology standards should not be required unless full-funding is provided at every school site. Otherwise, attaining these standards is nearly impossible.
Technology should be equitable to all students, especially those is low SES schools who do not have access to computers at home. Special finds should be provided to Title I schools, and those with large amounts of students with learning disabilities. These students benefit from techology tools such as New Media. When technology becomes fully-accessible to students of low SES, programs should encourage higher level thinking. Computers should not solely be used for remediation and rote drill and practice. In school computer labs, every students should have access to his or her own computer. If a computer lab is not available, a classroom ratio of 1:2 is necessary.
The implementation and support of these components will allow for a rich and equitable technology experience for all learners.